LOOK AT PROJECTS WITHIN YOUR LOCAL AREA

UPPER BASILDON, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND

THE PANG AND KENNET VALLEY COUNTRYSIDE PROJECT

Their mission is to promote the understanding, appreciation and conservation of the West Berkshire countryside by its residents and visitors and all other groups and businesses involved in its care and management. The organisation will also promote practical work to further these aims. The PKVCP is ran by Basildon Parish Council a lot like the other social actions in and around Upper Basildon. E-mail customerservices@westberkshire.gov.uk Phone number 0163542400 Address West Berkshire Market Street Nerbury RG12 5LD

PROMOTING THE STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY SINCE 1881

The society was founded back in 1881 to encourage the study of natural history in the Berkshire area. The Society produces an annual publication The Reading Naturalist this includes reports by the societys recorders on botany, invertebrates, fungi and vertebrates. Recorders are always keen to receive significant records from anyone in the Reading area both members and nonmembers. The RDNHS is ran by Basildon Parish Council a lot like the other social actions in and around Upper Basildon. E-mail customerservices@westberkshire.gov.uk Phone number 0163542400 Address West Berkshire Market Street Nerbury RG12 5LD

The Basildon Rights of Way champions mission is to keep footpaths tidy for both the community and also the local animals living in woodlands and surrounding areas. The Basildon Rights of Way champions is based in the village of Upper Basildon and is formed of nine Councillors and a Clerk. They set out individually to make sure all the local footpaths are clean, tidy and accessible as Upper Basildon sadly has a lot of dumpers. They get designated at least 2 paths to keep an eye on and they are expected to send monthly reports to the Clerk. If the councillors do come across a pile of rubbish then they are expected to tidy it up to an extent, if the items are too large or too much for the Councillor to clean themselves then they report it in the monthly report and the council will sort it this also include the removal of fallen trees. The Basildon Rights of Way champions is ran by Basildon Parish Council a lot like the other social actions in and around Upper Basildon. E-mail customerservices@westberkshire.gov.uk Phone number 0163542400 Address West Berkshire Market Street Nerbury RG12 5LD

RESEARCH OTHER ACTION VIDEOS

RESEARCH FOR OWN VIDEO

Why was it set up? Basildon Rights of Way champions was set up as there was a rise in fly tipping in and around Upper Basildon which was restricting the byways, footpaths and bridal paths. Horse riders and off roaders would often find them self's stuck in the woodlands and have to trace there tracks back as there was no exit; Upper Basildon has a lot of stables so this happened a lot. People started to complain to the counsel about the fly tipping and mess around the lovely surroundings so this is when the Basildon Rights of Way champions was set up. Who set it up? Basildon Rights of Way champions was set up by the West Berkshire council a few years back. Funding? Basildon Rights of Way champions are funded by the parish council.

About the offence: Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of any waste on to land or sites unauthorised to accept waste. It is an offence to drop litter and if people drop, throw, deposit or leave anything so as to cause defacement in a public place, they could be committing a littering offence. Anyone caught fly tipping could be liable to prosecution facing fines of up to 5,000 or 5 years imprisonment which just shows how important this issue is. People need be aware that under legislation that came into force in 2005, they have a 'Duty of Care' to ensure that any rubbish not collected from them as part of a Council service must be collected by a business or person licensed to carry waste. Fly tipping/littering in Upper Basildon: West Berkshire gets a lot of fly tipping especially in its lovely country villages like Upper Basildon as they have easy access to the woodlands and footpaths. Although littering is common everywhere West Berkshire gets a lot of problems around the school areas and parks. In Upper Basildon the residents usually pick it and bin it but we cant let this carry on.

When the project started out it was formed of nine Councillors and a Clerk and only the Clerk got paid and the councillors were volunteers although now the councillors get paid 20 a month for there services which works out about 5 an hour as they only have to check their footpaths once a month unless something has been reported.

The community was often commenting and complaining about the fly tipping and since the Basildon Rights of Way champions have been together there has been a significant drop in the amount of calls regarding litter and fly tipping. Having the byways and bridle paths clear means that the village has managed to hold a lot more horse trails and hacks which brings people to the village and maybe more possible residence. The village has also gone up in the popularity ranks of the Berkshire villages which is really good for the local national trust house, Basildon Park and has gone up in the price ranges as well.

No single person has been helped just individual groups. The footpaths being clear means that it makes it easier for horse riders, walkers and cyclists.

Due to the size of the organisation the group doesnt yet have a social action but have let me know that if my social action video is to a good enough standard it will be shown on the Basildon Parish Councils website.

GATHER DETAILS ON WHO YOU CAN INTERVIEW

E-mail customerservices@westberkshire.gov.uk Phone number 0163542400 Address West Berkshire Market Street Nerbury RG12 5LD

 Anne Dewing Clerk (anne.dewing@tiscali.co.uk) Natalie Weekes Parish Councillor (n.jomain@gmail.com) Elaine Cox WBC footpaths officer and also a Basildon Parish Councillor (ecrh2001@gmail.com) Keri Hollis Volunteer (07810****79) Volunteers Mayor? Try and contact

I have organised to follow a volunteer on one of their trips out clearing footpaths.

My angle will be to inform the public about the public and residence of Upper Basildon about the work that goes on about the footpaths but also change the attitude about fly tipping and maybe show the fly tippers them self's what effect it has on the public.

Although they dont have any footage that I can use I have footage from the spring clean that took part in spring 2010. If I will use it I dont know as its not very high quality therefore I may be unable to use it.